Abraham M. Denmark is director of the Asia program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. He served as deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia from 2015 through January 2017. Prior to that position, he was senior vice president at the National Bureau of Asian Research.
South Korean marines participate in a landing operation at the Foal Eagle joint military exercise in Pohang, South Korea on April 2, 2017. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)
WEST POINT, NY - MAY 27: U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis speaks to West Point graduates during the U.S. Military Academy Class of 2017 graduation ceremony at Michie Stadium on May 27, 2017 in West Point, New York. Secretary Mattis addressed the 950 graduating cadets during the ceremony. (Photo by Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)
PYEONGTAEK, SOUTH KOREA - MARCH 06: In this handout photo provided by U.S. Forces Korea, trucks are seen carrying parts required to set up the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile defense system that had arrived at the Osan Air Base on March 6, 2017 in Pyeongtaek, South Korea. (Photo by United States Forces Korea via Getty Images)
US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis reviews an honor guard during a welcoming ceremony at the Defence Ministry in Tokyo on February 4, 2017. / AFP / TORU YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP/Getty Images)
